The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a public consultation on its draft funding Order and Undertakings for the household pet veterinary services market. Published on 30 June 2026, this consultation follows a March 2026 investigation which revealed that specific features within First Opinion Practices (FOPs) and outsourced out-of-hours (OOH) services prevent, restrict, or distort effective competition. To address these deficiencies, the CMA is expanding the regulatory and monitoring role of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The proposed Veterinary Services Market Investigation (Funding) Order 2026 and accompanying RCVS Funding Undertakings establish a legally binding statutory mechanism to ensure the regulator is appropriately financed. Interested parties have until 11:59 pm on 30 July 2026 to submit their views.
The proposed framework centers on a cost-recovery levy system, mandating that commercial, for-profit FOPs and dedicated OOH Centres bear the financial responsibility for sector oversight. The initial levy will cover the regulator’s implementation and preparatory costs from the publication date of the Final Report through 31 March 2027. The RCVS has estimated these initial costs at £1.755 million. Spread across approximately 4,417 small animal FOPs and 200 OOH centres, the CMA anticipates a flat fee of roughly £400 per qualifying site, intentionally avoiding complex turnover or staffing structures to keep administrative burdens minimal. The draft order also provides guidelines for pro-rated monthly fees for expanding sites, alongside credit or refund systems for closures.
To protect independent veterinary professionals and prevent excess financial strain, the CMA has built strict transparency safeguards into the agreements. Monies collected via the levy must be held completely separate from general RCVS operational funds. These funds can only support approved consumer-empowerment activities, such as enhancing the “Find A Vet” platform, establishing independent alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, producing standardized prescription literature, and tracking annual consumer complaints. Structurally, the single largest expenditure focuses on critical IT upgrades for back-end customer relationship management and compliance databases.
To maintain efficiency, the initial £1.755 million budget has already undergone an independent assessment by a public accounting firm. Moving forward, the RCVS must publish an independent ex-post audit within four months of the close of every funding period to verify expenditures. Financial surpluses or deficits will carry forward into subsequent 24-month billing cycles, allowing the CMA to adjust future levy amounts based on actual market costs. The CMA considers these funding estimates robust, proportionate, and aligned with its core consumer remedies. Stakeholders are invited to email written feedback to VetsMI@cma.gov.uk before the late July deadline.
